Mattress filling machine



5 Sheets-Sheet 1' ATTORNEY M. GOLDBERG FILLING MACHINE pi Y xi l mw May 19, 1953 Filed Oct. 21 '1950 s m R. -.N 8 m 8 w m @W M n n M H. |||||Il|| III III III II L May 19, 1953 M. GOLDBERG MATTRESS FILLING mcumz 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 21, 1950 MAX GOLDBERG INVENTOR BY W M! ATTORNEY May 19, 1953 M. GOLDBERG 2,639,073

' MATTRESS FILLING MACHINE Filed Oct. 21, 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet;

' FIGAQ MAX GOLDBERG INVENTOR ATTORNEY May 19, 1953 M. GOLDBERG 2,639,073

MATTRESS FILLING MACHINE Filed pop. 21', 1950 5 Sheets-Sheet s FIGB MAX G-OLDBERG INVENTOR BMW ATTORNEY Patented May 19, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT) OFFICE Max Goldberg, New York, N. Y. v y 7 Application October 21, 1950, Serial No. 191,469

7 Claims.

This invention relates to a machine for filling mattress casings and pillow casings, etc., with pro-formed filler means made of foam rubber or the like.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved mattress filling machine which comprises a single endless belt supported on a plat--' form at its upper elevation andpassing around a large drive roller and around two lower tensioning rollers, one end of the endless belt passing around a roller having its upper surface in alignment with the platform while the other end of the endless belt passes around a curved end portion of a flat platform on which the belt is slidingiy mounted, the said mechanism constituting the lower feeding member of the machine which is supported in fixed relation from a floor; in combination with an upper arrangement of similar but vertically movable mechanism constituting the upper feeding member but positioned in reversed. relation to the said lower feeding member. The filler means which is generally made of foam rubber or the like is fed into a mattress casing supported by the upper and lower endless belts at the delivery end of the machine.

Another object of this invention is to provide vertically mounted endless belts intermediate the horizontal conveyors, at the feeding end of the machine, the vertical endless belts serving for compressing both side portions of a onepiece filler to cause the filler to freely enter into the mattress casing, the vertically mounted endless belts causing feeding actions on both sides of the filler and thereby augmenting the longitudinal feeding of the filler by the horizontal conveyors.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention will be hereinafter more particularly described, and the combination and arrangement of parts will be shown in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims which form part of this specification.

Reference will now be had to the drawings, wherein like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which:

Figure l is a top plan view of a machine embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the machine shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross-sectional View taken on line 3-3 in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a front end elevation of the machine.

Figurefi is a fragmentary elevational sideview of the machine, showing a modified discharge end, portion having sideways movable members for filling mattress casings of large width. I

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line fi6. in Figure 5.-

Figure 7 is portion of the mattress, filling machine showing an adjustable filler enclosure having. a double, threaded shaft arrangement for moving the upright sides of the enclosure .to or from each other lcr difi'erent widths of fillers.

Figure B is top plan view of a modified: mechanism for feeding both sides of a mattress; filler by means of endlessbelts.

Figure 9 is afront View of the drive mechanism.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, the numeral id indicates a mattress filling machine having a frame H comprising foundation members it, uprights l3 and side plates l4 suitably fastened together by rivets I 5.

Secured to the upper surfaces of the side plates it aretransyerse bars L6 to the upper surfaces of whicha, rectangular plate, H is secured. The plate il forms a platform upon whichsa portion of an endless conveyor belt i8 is slidably mounted. I

A shalt Ellis rotatably mounted in bearings 2 I fixed to the plates i l, Secured to the shaft 20; is a roller 22 havin a, fluted rubber outer cover Two shaftsfiil are rotatably mounted in bearings 25 fixed to the plates i l. Each shaft, M has .a roller 28 suitably fired thereto;

Therollers 28 are positioned closer together than the diameter of the fluted'rcller and serve to increase the arc of contact of the conveyor belt it with the roller 2'2; I

At one end of the plate ll is an integral extension 27 of generally circular cross-section. Theextension 21 is coextensive with the transverse extentof the plate ll and is large enough in diameter to extend appreciably below the plate and forms an end support over which the endless belt lli is freely movable.

The support plate I? terminates at the opposite end shortofa roller 29. rotatably mounted on a shaft 38 disposed within bearings 3|.

The endless conveyor belt i8 is rotatably mounted on the roller 29 while supported at its upper surface by the plate I7 and remains operative in' asingle horizontal plane in suitably elevated relation above the floor line.

Slidably mounted at the upper portion of theframe I I are side plates M which carry transiront elevation of a fragmentary verse bars I6. Secured to the lower surface of the transverse bars I6 is a rectangular plate I1. A portion of the upper surface of the plate I1 forms a platform upon which a portion of an endless conveyor belt I6 is slidably mounted.

A shaft 20' is rotatably mounted in bearings 2| fixed to the plates I4. Secured to the shaft 20' is a roller 22' having a fluted rubber outer casing 23. Two shafts 24 are rotatably mounted in bearings 25' fixed to the plates I4. Each shaft 24 has a roller 26' suitably fixed thereto.

The rollers 26 are positioned closer together than the diameter of the fluted roller 22 and serve to increase the arc of contact of the conveyor belt I6 with the roller 22.

At one end of each plate I1 is an integral extension 21 of generally circular cross-section. The extension 21' is coextensive with the transverse extent of the plate I1 and is large enough in diameter to extend appreciably above the plate I1 and forms an end support over which the endless belt I8 is freely movable.

The support plate I1 terminates at the opposite end short of a roller 29 rotatably mounted on a shaft 30 disposed within bearings 3|.

The endless conveyor belt I6 is rotatably mounted on the roller 29' while slidably supported at its lower surface by the plate I1 and is movable vertically up and down in relation to the belt I8. This vertical motion is accomplished by threaded members 34 threadably mounted in threaded bosses 35 secured to the upper face of a plate 36 fixed to the uprights I3. At its lower end, each threaded member 34 is fixed to a collar 31 by a pin 38. At its upper end, each threaded member 34 is fixed to a lever 33 by a pin 40. The collar 31 is mounted between ears 4| integral with and extending from the plate I4. A chain 40 meshing with sprockets 40 rotatably connects the elevating screw shafts 34.

By manipulating either lever 39, it is possible to raise or lower the conveyor belt I6 and the supporting mechanism therefor to and from the conveyor belt I8. This arrangement makes it possible to adjust the distance between the two conveyor belts I3 and I8, 50 that the mattress casings or tickings 42 of different heights may be mounted in frictionally supported relation on the feeding end portions of the conveyor belts I8 and I8.

It is to be noted that the mechanism so far described serves for the purpose of inserting a foam rubber filler 43 which is preferably made in one piece in its entirety, into a casing or ticking 42. A single filler of extensive size is designed to occupy and fill the entire mattress casing. In operation, the filler 43 is compressed when inserted between the sheave rollers 29 and 29, and between the endless conveyor belts I8 and I6 and freely fed into the casing 42.

A table 45 supported on the fixed side plates I4, supports the mattress filler 43 between the upper and lower endless conveyor belts I6 and I8.

The one-piece type foam rubber filler 43 is highly compressible and must also be compressed sideways to permit its ready insertion into a mattress casing or ticking 42. For this purpose, I provide two pulleys 46 preferably of sheave type and mounted on vertical shafts 41 to rotate horizontally intermediate the conveyors. As shown by the arrows in Figure l, the pulleys 46 rotate toward each other due to a crossed belt and pulley arrangement 48 below the table 45. The pulleys 46 can frictionally grip and compress both sides of a single unit foam rubber filler 43 to a width considerably less than the width of a mattress casing so as to freely enter into the casing.

As shown in Figures 2 and 4, it will be seen that a portion of each of the sheave pulleys 46 are in overlapping relation with an end portion of the upper and lower horizontal conveyor belts I6 and I8. The pulleys 46 are thereby adapted for compressing both side portions of a unitary filler. It will be noted that the upper and lower conveyors simultaneously compress the foam rubber filler 43 which has been reduced in width by the sheave pulleys. The compressive force exerted by the conveyor belts holds the sideways compressed filler to its smaller width while passing through the machine and this compression causes the filler to freely enter the mattress casing and then expand to the required size.

The shafts 41 are rotatably supported in bearing apertures in the table 45 and in bearings 49 suitably secured to the rear face of a cross beam 50 which is fixed to the side walls I4. A pulley 5| on the right-hand shaft 41 is driven by a belt 52 and imparts rotary motion to the pulleys 46.

Figure 5 shows a side view and Figure 6 shows a cross-sectional view of a modified vertically and horizontally adjustable discharge portion 55 of the mattress filling machine Ill. The adjustable discharge portion 55 is made of two lower rightangular plate members 56 respectively secured to the lower face of the fixed support plate I1, and two upper right-angular plate members 51 secured to the upper face of the vertically movable plate I1.

The horizontal side 56 of each member 56 has narrow transverse slots 56 through which the body portions of screws 59 pass into threaded engagement with the platform I1. The screw and slot arrangement serve to support the members 56 in frictionally slidable relation crosswise of the platform I1.

The horizontal side 51' of each member 51 has narrow transverse slots 58 through which the body portions of screws 59 pass into threaded engagement with the platform I1. The members 51 are thus frictionally slidable crosswise of the platform I1, similar to the members 56.

Each member 56 has a vertical wall 60. Each member 51 has a vertical wall 6|. The walls 60 and BI are in slidable telescopic relation and jointly with the upper and lower faces of the conveyors form a full rectangular enclosure of the adjustable discharge portion 55.

A bearing 65 is suitably fixed to the wall 6 I. A vertical rod 66 is fixed to the wall 60 and is slidable through the bearing 65.

The rod 66 provides an interlock which causes both walls 60 and 6| to move as a unit when one of the walls is moved laterally of the plates I1 and I1.

When the operator turns a lever or handle 33 to raise or lower the platform I1, the upright wall 6| is at the same time raised or lowered and this adjusts the vertical distance inside the rectangular enclosure or discharge portion 55.

For the purpose of moving the members 56 to or from each other, I provide a shaft 68 having threads 69, 69 on opposite ends which rotate in opposite directions. The shaft 68 is rotatably mounted in bearings 10 secured to the horizontal sides 56' of the members 56. The shaft 68 has a middle bearing 1| which is designed to retain the shaft in rotatable relation but not movable sideways from the bearings 10. The handle 12 attached to one end of the shaft $3 serves to rotate the shaft. Bearings m support the shaft F58.

It will thus be seen that when the shaft 68 is rotated, the oppositely directed threads 69, (59' will cause the bearings 65 and the plates ii jointly with the plates til to move to or from the middle of the discharge portion it will be noted that by manipulating the handles '12 and 3%, it is possible to provide an enclosure 55 of desired height and of desired width suitable for a particular site mattress As shown in Figure 8, I have rovided a rhodifled side feed l5 comprising two vertical rotatable endless belts it each mounted on two shafts ill and 78. The shafts ll are rotatably mounted in bearings l9 fixed rearwar-dly of the cross bean. iiil which is integral with the side plates it. The shafts is are mounted n blocks til on the table it and suitabi in posi on.

The belts Eli are a anged to face each other in angular relation, with the vertex facing the discharge end of machine. ifhe endless belts it cause feeding action on both upright sides of the filler thereby augment the longitudinal feed of the mattress filler by the horizontal. conveyor belts it and i8.

plate @l is a sprocket 86 secured to the shaft 29. A sprocket gear is rotatably mounted on the shaft H3. The sprocket and all are connected by a sprocket til.

A spur gear as is rotatably mounted on the shaft 83 and secured to the sprocket gear The spur gear 639 is in mesh with a spur gear at rotatably mounted on stub shaft Qt. ihe shaft til is secured to the plate 82 while the shaft 83 passes through the plate 32 and is secured to the plate 89. A further sprocket gear Si is rotatably mounted on the shaft til and is secured to the spur gear 8d. ihe sprocket gear 9! is driven by a sprocket chain 92 which meshes with a sprocket gear 93 secured to the shaft fill.

It will be seen that the belt 85 will drive both shafts 2i) and 2d irrespective of the vertical distance of the shaft it in relation to the shaft 26 due to the permissible angular variations between the plates ti and t2 swinging on the shaft or cormnon pivot 33.

In accordance with the patent statutes I have described and illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention, but it will be understood that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a filling machine for filling a mattress casing with a unitary foam rubber filler, the combination of a frame and means for supporting said unitary filler, upper and lower longitudinally endless substantially parallel conveyors made of fabric and forming a spout, said conveyors being pressing both side portions of said unitary filler prior to the initiation of compression by said conveyors, said reduced width and bodily com pressed filler being therebyadapted to freely. enter into said mattress casing, said pulleys causing feeding actions on both sides of said filler and thereby augmenting the longitudinal feeding of said fill r by said conveyors, said upper conveyor beingvertically movably mounted relative to said lower conveyor for filling mattress: casings of different thicknesses.

2. In a filling machine for filling a mattresscasing with a unitary foam rubber filler, the combination of a frame and means for supporting said unitary filler, upper and lower longitudinally endless substantially parallel conveyors made of fabric and forming a spout, said conveyors being adapted to compress said filler and thereby exert longitudinal feeding actions on the upper and lower of filler, and two sheave pulleys rotatably mounted horizontally intermediate said conveyors, at the feeding end of said machine, a portion of each of saidsheave pulleys being in overlapping relation with an end portion of said conveyors being thereby adapted for compressing both side portions of said unitary filler prior to the initiation. of compression by said conveyors, said reduced width and bodily com being thereby adapted to freely enter into said mattress casing, said pulleys causing feeding actions on both sides of said filler and thereby augmenting the longitudinal feeding of said filler by said conveyors.

3. In a filling machine for filling a mattress casing with foam rubber filler means, the com" bination of a frame and means for supporting. said filler means, upper andlower longitudinally.

endless substantially parallel conveyors and forming a spout, said conveyors being adapted to compress said filler means and thereby exert longitudinal feeding actions on the upper and lower faces of said filler means, and two rotary coinpressing means mounted horizontally intermediate said conveyors, at the feeding end of said machine, a portion of each of said rotary e01 pressing means being in overlapping relation with an end portion of said conveyors and being thereby adapted for compressing both side portions of said filler means prior to the initiation of compression by said conveyors, said reduced width and bodily compressed filler being thereby adapted to freely enter into said mattress casing, said rotary compressing means causing feeding actions on both sides of said filler means and thereby augmenting the longitudinal feeding of said filler means by said conveyors.

4. In a filling machine for filling a mattress casing with foam rubber filler means, the combination of a frame and means for supporting said filler means, upper and lower longitudinally endless substantially parallel horizontal conveyors and forming a spout, said horizontal conveyors being adapted to compress said filler means and thereby exert longitudinal feeding actions on the upper and lower faces of said filler means, and two vertically mounted rotary compressing means intermediate said horizontal conveyors, at

7 the feeding end of said machine, a portion of each of said rotary compressing means being in overlapping relation with an end portion of said conveyors and being thereby adapted for compressing both side portions of said filler means prior to the initiation of compression by said conveyors, said reduced width and bodily compressed filler being thereby adapted to freely enter into said mattress casing, said vertically mounted rotary compressing means causing feeding actions on both sides of said filler means and thereby augmenting the longitudinal feeding of said filler means by said horizontal conveyors.

5. In a filling machine for filling a mattress casing with a foam rubber filler, the combination of a frame and means for supporting said filler, upper and lower longitudinally endless substantially parallel horizontal conveyors forming a spout, said horizontal conveyors being adapted to compress said filler and thereby exert longitudinal feeding actions on the upper and lower faces of said filler, and two vertically mounted rotary compressing means intermediate said horizontal conveyors, at the feeding end of said machine, a portion of each of said rotary compressing means being in overlapping relation with an end portion of said conveyors and being thereby adapted for compressing both side portions of said filler prior to the initiation of compression by said conveyors, said reduced width and bodily compressed filler being thereby adapted to freely enter into said mattress casing, said vertically mounted rotary compressing means causing feeding actions on both sides of said filler and thereby augmenting the longitudinal feeding of said filler by said horizontal conveyors.

6. In a filling machine for filling a mattress casing with a foam rubber filler, the combination of a frame and means for supporting said filler, upper and lower longitudinally endless substantially parallel horizontal conveyors forming a spout, fixed horizontal platforms supporting said conveyors, said horizontal conveyors being adapted to compress said filler and thereby exert longitudinal feeding actions on the upper and lower faces of said filler, two vertically mounted rotary compressing means intermediate said horizontal conveyors, at the feeding end of said machine, a portion of each of said rotary compressing means being in overlapping relation with an end portion of said conveyors and being thereby adapted for compressing both side portions of said filler prior to the initiation of compression by said conveyors, said reduced width and bodily compressed filler being thereby adapted to freely enter into said mattress casing, said vertically mounted rotary compressing means causing feeding actions on both sides of said filler and thereby augmenting the longitudinal feeding of said filler by said horizontal conveyors, and a telescopic rectangular enclosure integral with said platforms and adjustable for delivering a filler of pro-determined size into said mattress casing.

7. In a filling machine for filling a mattress casing with a foam rubber filler, the combination of a. frame and means for supporting said filler, upper and lower longitudinally endless substantially parallel horizontal conveyors forming a, spout, fixed horizontal platforms supporting said conveyors, said horizontal conveyors being adapted to compress said filler and thereby exert longitudinal feeding actions on the upper and lower faces of said filler, two vertically mounted rotary compressing means intermediate said horizontal conveyors, at the feeding end of said machine, a portion of each of said rotary compressing means being in overlapping relation with an end portion of said conveyors and being thereby adapted for compressing both side portions of said filler prior to the initiation of compression by said conveyors, said reduced width and bodily compressed filler being thereby adapted to freely enter into said mattress casing, a telescopic rectangular enclosure integral with said platforms and adjustable for delivering a filler of pro-determined size into said mattress casing, and means for driving said upper and lower conveyor belts irrespective of the vertical distance of said upper conveyor belt from said lower conveyor belt.

MAX GOLDBERG.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 568,648 White Sept. 29, 1896 771,073 Johansen Sept. 27, 1904 2,110,359 Droll et a1. Mar. 8, 1938 2,372,646 Barnby et al. Apr. 3, 1945 2,509,771 Lang May 30, 1950 

